Week In Tech: Let’s talk about technology for good.

Posted by Adam Ward on 27 July 2018

In recent months the news cycles have been dominated by stories around how technology is helping to drive division within our society, spread ‘Fake News’ cycles and even bring about the apocalypse through the reliance on robotics and artificial intelligence. With such doom and gloom never more than a click of the mouse or remote away, let’s take a look at some of the more positive technology stories making the headlines this week.

According to the United Nations around 1.3 billion tons of food produced for human consumption is either lost or wasted every year. The total cost of this wastage? $990 billion dollars globally. Looking to reduce this problem, technology company Winnow has created a piece of technology to aide in food wastage reduction. According to CNBC the ‘system developed by Winnow is relatively simple. A scale is placed under a kitchen’s bin and connected to a Winnow tablet. With a few touches on the tablet, kitchen staff identify the items they have just disposed of, and then get back to preparing and cooking food’. A simple solution for a worldwide problem.

In an exciting development for those interested in extra-terrestrial activity and the goings on in the solar system, researchers this week have found evidence of an existing body of liquid water on Mars. Speaking to the BBC, Dr Manish Patel from the Open University explained: ‘We have long since known that the surface of Mars is inhospitable to life as we know it, so the search for life on Mars is now in the subsurface. This is where we get sufficient protection from harmful radiation, and the pressure and temperature rise to more favourable levels. Most importantly, this allows liquid water, essential for life.’ It’s reassuring to know that if the robots don’t finish us off by the end of the century, the Martians quite possibly could.

With only 4% of homes in Britain having access to full-fibre broadband, compared to 70% of those in countries such as Spain and Portugal, The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport this week stepped in to solve the issue. Sort of… According to the government’s proposed digital strategy, full-fibre broadband coverage will be made available to all UK homes by 2033. Yes, that’s right, 2033. At least we’ll be able to stream series 48 of The Walking Dead without any issues.

A big thanks to Leo Cosendai from Third Ear for bringing sound meditation & modern mindfulness to our office today. All the Octopedes who attended had an amazing experience. #WellnessDay https://t.co/Ic3mhGFw3W